MICRO INDUSTRIES INTRODUCES RUGGEDIZED VEHICLE SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER FOR ON-BOARD GPS AND CONTROL
Board's Design Ideal for Extreme Conditions of Automotive Applications
Westerville, Ohio, August 2, 1999
Micro Industries Corporation today introduced its new Ruggedized Vehicle Single Board Computer (RVSBC). The RVSBC is an Intel/AMD 486-compatible CPU board that uses a standard PC architecture with a wide variety of I/O to accommodate virtually any transportation application. Micro Industries is an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company that provides electronic engineering and manufacturing resources to OEMs.
The RVSBC is designed for transportation applications including automotive, trucking, rail, and military; or any application requiring a global positioning system (GPS). Its compact size and ruggedized design make it ideal in particular for operation in the extreme conditions encountered in automotive applications.
The RVSBC provides GPS functions and acts as an interface to various sensors and systems in a vehicle. The RVSBC communicates with an operator using video, keyboard, and sound interfaces.
"Most on-board vehicle computers are either custom-designed for a specific vehicle or require a variety of standard products to support the functions that are incorporated in the RVSBC," stated Michael Curran, president and CEO of Micro Industries. "The RVSBC provides a single board solution for GPS and system control. OEMs using this computer can apply it to a wide variety of transportation applications, saving time and money, as well as the effort it takes to customize a computer or aggre ate piecemeal solutions."
According to Jim Rohling, programs manager, Rockwell-Collins, "Micro Industries has integrated new technologies like the 12-Channel Jupiter GPS with other existing technologies to create a computer for mission-critical on-vehicle applications. These applications include data processing and management, differential corrected global positioning reporting, control of on-vehicle radios, and central control and monitoring of other on-vehicle systems. We used Micro Industries' RVSBC in the Mobile Equipment Set for the ILG (Integrated Local Government) Fleet Management System, TM2001(copyright) that we manufacture."
RVSBC Incorporates New and Existing Technologies for Optimized Performance
- Socket 5 Processor Technology: This PC architecture from Intel and AMD, with standard memory and peripheral I/O options, offers a low-cost solution which consumes less power and emits less heat than other models.
- Jupiter GPS Interface: The RVSBC is compatible with the Jupiter GPS from Conexant (formerly Rockwell), providing accurate detail on vehicle location.
- Specialized and User Configurable I/O: With 10 serial ports (2-SAE J1708, 5-RS-232, 3-TTL), 72 digital I/O, and PC/104 interface, the RVSBC provides a wealth of I/O options.
- Extensive Solid State Memory Options: The 2-72MB M-Systems DiskOnChip® 2000, IDE SanDisk Flash with CompactFlash socket, 512KB battery-backed SRAM, and E2PROM back up for CMOS settings offer fast and cost-effective data storage solutions for single board computers.
- Fail Safe Operating Environment: Advanced Power Management (APM V1.1), over temperature control, and a programmable watchdog timer provide system security.
Availability and Price
The RVSBC is available immediately in the United States and Europe. Pricing begins at $695 (U.S.) in OEM quantities. Variations in pricing are based on configured options. Prices are subject to change without notice. Products can be ordered by calling Micro Industries' Customer Service Department at 800-722-1842. A complete listing of product features is included in the attached table. For more information, visit www.microindustries.com
About Micro Industries
Micro Industries Corporation, founded in 1978, is an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company that provides electronic engineering and manufacturing resources to OEMs. Micro Industries helps customers translate their product requirements into low-cost standard, custom, and semi-custom product solutions for embedded and integrated computer systems. The 52,000 square foot facility in Westerville, Ohio serves as corporate headquarters, and houses an EPA Zero Discharge manufacturing facility that meets both ISO 9001-94 and ISO 14001 standards. The manufacturing facility has fully automated conventional and surface mount assembly lines for both prototype and production requirements. Micro Industries employs a dedicated staff of engineers focused on product design. For more information visit www.microindustries.com
Micro Industries Corporation RVSBC Complete Listing of Product Features
- Form factor
- Non-standard (6.375" x 8.000")
- Processor
- Intel 486DX4-100 & AMD 486DX5-133 with 16k L1 Cache
- Chipset
- Chips&Tech 4041, consisting of:
- C&T 84041 System Controller
- C&T 84045 Integrated Peripheral Controller
- Memory
- Onboard memory configurations of 0MB, 4MB (standard), and 16MB
- Expandable with an additional SODIMM Socket up to 32MB (72pin, EDO/FPM, 3.3V)
- Cache
- 128KB on-board level-two cache
- Flash
- Disk M-Systems DiskOnChip¨2000
- 2-72MB capacity
- Full boot operability
- Broad O/S support
- GPS
- Interface Rockwell Jupiter GPS
- Onboard mounting location and connector
- Sound
- ESS Technologies ES1788
- SoundBlaster® Pro compatible
- Mono input and output
- Video
- Chips&Tech 65550 HiQVideo Accelerator
- 2 MB of DRAM on-board
- Flat panel interface for connection to 18-bit TFT color panel (3.3V/5V)
- I/O
- Control Chips&Tech 82C735
- Peripheral Interfaces
- Ten 16550 serial ports all with dedicated interrupt control - Two SAE J1708 - Five RS-232 - Three TTL
- Three 8255 Digital I/Os (for 72 digital inputs and outputs)
- Keyboard
- One parallel port: bi-directional, ECP (IEEE 1284)
- Fast IDE interface for onboard SanDisk (Solid State Flash) and CompactFlash socket
- 512KB Battery-backed SRAM (option)
- Additional Features
- PC/104 interface for expansion
- Real Time Clock with battery backup
- Watchdog Timer with software on/off control
- Over-temperature controlled clock throttling
- BIOS
- 256kB Flash Memory (128KB available for ROM extensions)
- CMOS settings backed-up into E2PROM incase battery power lost
- APM v1.1 (Advanced Power Management)
- Flash re-programming utilities
Click here to download a PDF version of this press release.
